—It was about time you came— said the scrillch.
—W-what... Who are you!?
—I am a scrillch. The hundredth generation that has been guarding your clothes in this damp hollow. That old fool Dercom, whom I never met, took far too long to send you.
—You're the guardian?
—And lucky for you, or you'd already be dead. If we are bothered, we shoot these beautiful poisoned spines— he said, bristling his entire body.
—Incredible! You can talk!
—I don't see what's so incredible about me talking. You do it too, and by the way, you have a horrible accent. You should avoid talking to strangers, or you'll raise suspicion. By the way, I see you're naked. I don't understand how you bipeds need to cover yourselves with rags. Wait a moment.
The spiny creature disappeared into the tree and reappeared with a small bundle of strange dark green fabric. The package was tied with a fine cord of the same color and material as the wrapping. The scrillch carried it between its small teeth and dropped it at Gabriel's feet. The young man stroked the strange fabric, which felt smooth to the touch.
—What beautiful fabric! Where does it come from?— Gabriel asked.
—It is woven from the elements of Mother Nature. It has her consistency and strength and has preserved its contents intact for thousands of years. Open it; inside, you will find specific explorer's clothing.
Gabriel untied the cord that kept the package closed. Inside, he found a sort of shirt, a leather vest, a jacket, pants, and boots, all in the same terracotta shade.
—What is the leather vest for?
—We live in dark times, human. You must be careful. While it's not of the best quality, it will protect you from light weapons. Wait a moment. I have something for you that I got from a thief.
The scrillch disappeared again into the hole in the tree and returned with a rather rusted short sword and a map.
—This wasn't in the original inventory, but it might come in handy— he said, tossing the objects at his feet.
—Thank you— said Gabriel, taking the sword and testing its weight. —I didn't think there would be danger so soon.
—Perhaps nothing will happen, and for your sake, let's hope the first stage goes smoothly, at least until you reach Iclys.
—Don Anselmo... I mean, Dercom, told me to travel to Valarión, he never mentioned Iclys.
—Valarión!? Valarión ceased to exist a long time ago!
—What are you saying!?— Gabriel exclaimed, hurriedly unfolding the map. The layout of the continent of Eridian was exactly the same as the one Don Anselmo had shown him, but many points had changed with the appearance of new settlements and geographical features, such as the Gori Desert. And indeed, Valarión was no longer listed; in its place stood a vast forest named Orgrass.
—What do I do now!?
—First of all, I recommend traveling to Iclys, the city of travelers. You can see it on the map, surrounded by the Trident River. In Iclys, you'll find someone to take you to Balamonte, the city of clouds.
—Balamonte? Why Balamonte? Dercom never mentioned it.
—Because Balamonte, just like Aramar, which is located on the ocean shore, originated from ancient Valarión.
—Dercom warned me about possible changes, but I never thought those changes would include the disappearance of an entire city.
—Much time has passed, boy, a long time. I only hope it's not too late.
Gabriel quickly dressed. The clothes were not exactly his size; they were somewhat large, but they would serve well for the first stage of the journey.
—Well, I suppose I should get going— said Gabriel. —I have everything now, though the clothes are a bit uncomfortable.
—Patience. You'll soon find better clothes and weapons. What good is the best gear if you don't know how to use it?
—You're right. That's the part of the story I don't understand. I don't see myself as a hero capable of saving the world. I can barely defend myself.
—All in due time, boy, all in due time. Now go! Time is short; let's hope we meet again and have a long chat. My name is Scrabellich. Most of my kind know me, and if you ever have trouble with them, just mention me or the old Dercom, if they still remember him.
—Thank you, Scrabellich. Thanks for everything.
The young man set off on his journey. He walked for what he estimated to be five hours until he reached a small clearing where he saw fruit trees bearing completely unknown fruits. Hunger gnawed at his stomach, and he couldn't resist the temptation to take one of those strange, pear-shaped fruits with thick, dark red skin. The taste was sour, but they were very juicy and quenched his thirst. He ate four and stored what he could in his makeshift bag, made from the fabric of the wrapping.
He estimated the time and deduced it was between two and three in the afternoon. He resumed his journey, leaving behind the clearing where he had rested for the first time. The forested landscape repeated itself until something changed in his ears. Little by little, amid the birds' songs and the gentle murmur of the breeze among the treetops, a deep rumble of the river beyond the forest's edge mixed in. This gave Gabriel renewed energy, and he quickened his pace. After an hour, he reached the end of the forest, opening into a green plain—a vast meadow stretching as far as the eye could see, cut about a hundred and fifty meters ahead by a thunderous river: the Trident.
He stepped onto the grass, which reached his waist. The entire place was a paradise, exuding only peace and tranquility. Gabriel stood mesmerized, intoxicated by the unparalleled beauty. He walked slowly, his arms extended, brushing his hands against the tips of the flowering grass. His radiant face reflected great joy. He continued at a leisurely pace, stopping repeatedly to admire the multicolored flowers hidden in the dense grass and the various butterflies, whose wings displayed the exquisite artistry of the creator—a divine brushstroke of immaculate colors.
At last, he reached the banks of the Great Trident River. In this section, it was very strong; further ahead, it widened, and the waters ran calmer. He checked the map. Now he had to follow the river almost to the end, where it split into three branches. At this division lay Iclys, the city of travelers. From there, he would have to find transport to reach the city of clouds. He began his journey following the river's course; in the distance, on the horizon, a massive red sun began to merge with the earth. The kiss of dusk.
An hour and a half later, Gabriel stopped. Night had fallen, and darkness covered everything. Only the moon's faint glow battled against the black shrouds of night. The forest in the distance had turned into a dark, eerie wall. Fear of the unknown crept over him, especially remembering the scrillch's warning words. He sat on the damp grass, ate three of the fruits he had collected, and lay down.
The crystalline sound of water became sharper, as did the chirping of insects. Everything transformed into a delightful nocturnal symphony of Mother Nature, seducing Gabriel, numbing his senses, lulling him into sleep, and driving away his fear of the unknown. Sinking into a dreamlike state, he felt completely relaxed, freeing his mind. Behind him was a crazed world, left behind were the foolish pressures of a materialistic existence. It was just him and nature in perfect harmony—something that never should have changed.
But his tranquility was abruptly shattered. A horrific screech pierced the night's lullaby. For Gabriel, it was as if he had been thrown into reality. He awoke with a start, his heart pounding wildly. He dared not move. The echo of that screech still resonated in his ears. After an indefinite time, he began to wonder if it had been just his imagination—until another, even louder, cry rang through the darkness, and a massive winged shadow loomed against the moon.